Can't get any rest!

[Sleepy-eyes]

I just increased my CPAP pressure to 15, and my C-Flex to 10.5. No-one has ever mentioned to me that a higher C-Flex pressure would help with Aerophagia!?!?!?!? (or at least if they have, I don't remember it) We'll see how these changes work tonight. I'm not going to give up. I want my life back!

[Liam1965]

I can't suggest much, but I just wanted to let you know I empathize with you.

I had the same problems.

It sounds like you're slowly being more successful than I was at defeating the problems.

Liam, empathetic, emphasis on the last 8 letters.

[air]

I do hope your changes will work ok tonight Chris,

(by the way, my name is chris also)

if i may ask, how is aerophagia occuring for you? i mean is it a suddeng swallowing, or you just get your stomach filled with air a little bit at a time without you realising it?

[Sleepy-eyes]

Hey, wait a minute. C-Flex is the exhale relief pressure. It can't be raised in increments such as you suggested, Self Seeker. I'm presently set on 2. Only have choice of 1, 2, or 3. Ramp is what I raised to 10.5! Is that what you meant?

[Sleepy-eyes]

if i may ask, how is aerophagia occuring for you? i mean is it a suddeng swallowing, or you just get your stomach filled with air a little bit at a time without you realising it?

When I was a kid, we'd swallow air so we could belch. Real funny, we thought. It's that same, high in the chest pressure from the swallowing of air. And at times it feels as if it migrates to the stomach. It is really uncomfortable because I'm belching all night.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): aerophagia

[SelfSeeker]

Chris,

The C-Flex, is exhale releif, the higher the number the more releif. This releif is in the form of a slight drop of incoming pressure as you exhale.

I am suggesting that you raise the CFlex to 3. Maybe that will help you exhale more air, so less air is swallowed. Just a thought I do not know if it will help you or not.

Ramp, is used to get used to the higher pressure when you start the xPAP.

[Sleepy-eyes]

Got it. Think that's what I said.

Changed my ramp back to the 7.5. My original RX was CPAP pressure at 15, Ramp at 7.5, and C-Flex at 1. Now that I've got a good seal on the mask and my stupid mouth, maybe the original RX is the way to go. But I'll try C-Flex at 3 for tonight and see what happens. Got to get those numbers down and still be able to get a good nights sleep.

[Goofproof]

Got it. Think that's what I said.

Changed my ramp back to the 7.5. My original RX was CPAP pressure at 15, Ramp at 7.5, and C-Flex at 1. Now that I've got a good seal on the mask and my stupid mouth, maybe the original RX is the way to go. But I'll try C-Flex at 3 for tonight and see what happens. Got to get those numbers down and still be able to get a good nights sleep.

C-Flex is a comfort setting, it has little to do with affecting AHI. Ramp also doesn't affect AHI, it just stops your treatment until it shuts off. If you fall asleep before the ramp is over, you may have untreated events due to the ramp not supplying treatment pressure. I don't know if they would show up on the software because I don't allow a ramp. Jim

[snoozie_suzy]

my AHI has stayed anywhere from 0.8 to 2.1. From what I understand, that is well within the area called acceptable. That said, I'd like to vent my frustration with this whole process!!!!! I feel awful in the morning when I get out of bed! :

Chris, although they say misery loves company, I guess me telling you that I am where you are at, even ONE year after starting this whole journey. I have absolutely spotless Encore Pro results, almost every week I average under 1.0 AHI, hardly any leaks. I still feel like garbage a year later. I don't have a bed partner to glare at at the moment sleeping soundly, but a year ago, before I was diagnosed, I would lay awake seething some nights that he could just lie there snoring away waking up refreshed, and me sleeping pretty full nights waking up garbage. So getting the diagnosis of OSA made everything make sense.

I have conferred with a few other members off the board privately about this exact scenario. One gentleman in particular swears by it that he does much better with lower pressure as possible. He says sometimes his Ahi is like 2 or 3 but he feels great finally. When he used to have it set to "abolish" every snore, hypopnea and apnea like the sleep labs try to do, YES it give you a great score, so to speak, but with some people it can wreak havoc on their sleep stages. Because even if the flucuating pressures that are somewhat subtle with the auto can be enough to mess up a person who is more pressure sensitive. Plus you speak of aerophagia, so why max it to 15, just so everything reads zero at the expense of you physically feeling lousy.

Not everyone on this board that says they feel great on cpap get scores of under 1 or 2 all the time. I mean yes, strive for under 5 but you don't necessarily have to have under 1 to mean sucessful. Its not all about the numbers its how you feel.

Keep us all posted on how you feel. Your girlfriend must be bumming she broke the mask they are soooo expensive.

Keep in mind that what might make yousleep the best might NOT be higher pressures,esp if it increases mask leaks.

Suzy

[Sleepy-eyes]

You could be right about comfort vs. numbers, Suzy. I kept my pressure at 15, with a 20 minute ramp of 7.5..............as prescribed, last night. Started the night with a C-Flex of 3, but only lasted two hours before Aerophagia was so bad I had stabbing pains in the right side of my chest. Was probably a large air pocket. My stomach was also starting to bloat. I turned off the machine and reset the C-Flex to 1 (prescribed number) and went back to sleep. Lasted two more hours, or so, but was still pretty uncomfortable. Turned off the machine and slept another 6 1/2 hours without it. (10 1/2 hours total!) Right now I feel like the south end of a north-bound mule that's just been hit by a train and run over by a truck..............and look like an Orangutan experiencing a bad hair day! During the first half of the night, my AHI was 2.0 and my Avg leak was 38.8. And the second half was AHI: 2.1 and an Avg leak of 67.46. (go figure!) Needless to say I'm very disappointed and disillusioned today. There are mornings I just feel like chucking all of this CPAP cr@p in the garbage and giving up.......................but by bedtime I'm ready to try it again. Today is one of those days.


Actually, Suzy, my girlfriend is such a fanatic about cleaning her mask, she was convinced it was time to "refresh" with a new one anyway. This one came with her machine when she started the therapy last February. I was even given a cleaning lesson when she loaned me this one. So now I've got to go out and buy some Ivory liquid to clean the mask every other day.

[Sleepy-eyes]

Last night I slept under the mask for 7 hours. CPAP pressure was 15, Ramp 7.5 for 20 minutes. C-Flex was set at 1. AHI was 1.0, and Avg leak was 41.39. I experienced absolutely no Aerophagia (that I was aware of, at least) and with the exception of pain from the pressure on my mustache, all went well. Hopefully, if I can just persevere, even that will become tolerable...........eventually. Certainly much different than the night before.........at the same settings. Don't guess I'll ever figure out what makes this therapy go 'round!

[Liam1965]

...my mustache...

I don't pay that much attention, but I had been thinking Sleepy-eyes was a woman.

Now I'm HOPING I'm wrong.

Liam, hirsute but for his scalp.

[Wulfman]

Congratulations, Chris!

This whole therapy, with all of the options available, is a "crapshoot" until you find out what works best for YOU.

Best wishes,

Den

[Sleepy-eyes]

I don't pay that much attention, but I had been thinking Sleepy-eyes was a woman.

Now I'm HOPING I'm wrong.

It's interesting how truly anonymous the internet can be. As I've mentioned many times before, my full beard and mustache have really caused me problems with getting a good seal on my mask.

Den,

Thanks...............yes, it seems to be a real crap-shoot of a therapy. Short of cutting off my mustache, I don't really have any idea what to do about the pressure pain in that area. Guess I'll just try to endure and get to where it doesn't bother me.

[Liam1965]

I don't pay that much attention, but I had been thinking Sleepy-eyes was a woman.

Now I'm HOPING I'm wrong.

As I've mentioned many times before, my full beard and mustache have really caused me problems with getting a good seal on my mask.

Although I would point out, you still didn't actually confirm your gender. And with a gender neutral name like "Chris"...

Liam, reductio ad absurdum.